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Lucy calls for action to tackle FOBTs

Lucy has kept up the pressure on ministers to tackle Fixed Odd Betting Terminals (FOBTs). David Cameron pledged to the House of Commons on October 23rd that the Government would be conducting a review of FOBTs after Labour MPs called for him to act.

Over the past ten years the number of FOBTs nationally has risen to over 34,000 and the profit generated from them for bookmakers has now reached over £1.4 billion. Here in the Manchester Central constituency £190 Million was gambled away on the machines last year alone and there are now 500 FOBTs across Manchester city centre.

Lucy has been working in Parliament with other MPs to tighten up the regulation of these machines and at Culture, Media and Sport questions she asked ministers when their promised review into FOBTs will begin. The Minster responding refused to set out a timetable and merely said that work was ongoing.

Lucy said:

“These machines are highly addictive and are often referred to as the crack cocaine of gambling, so it’s vital that we have proper regulation of FOBTs. Many constituents have contacted me worried that some bookmakers are trying to get around the current regulations, to install more machines.

“David Cameron pledged that the Government would be conducting a review into FOBTs, yet minsters refuse to say when it will start. I will continue to press for them to begin the regulation review as soon as possible.”